UMVA has learned that a former Christian school teacher in Georgia has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexually abusing a 15-year-old student, a scandal that ultimately led to the closure of the private academy.
Sherri Delle Mauldin, 61, pleaded guilty in court and was also sentenced to 25 years of probation and ordered to register as a sex offender. The case centered on allegations that Mauldin abused the teenage boy while working at Nathanael Greene Academy, a private Christian school in Siloam, Georgia.
The abuse happened over the course of a month and involved multiple sexual encounters in different locations. Prosecutors described the case as having several aggravating circumstances, including a significant age gap between Mauldin and the student, as well as the teacher-student relationship.
The district attorney emphasized that the age gap and the fact that Mauldin was a teacher were key factors in the sentencing. The DA also noted that the abuse was a repeated offense over several weeks, which further justified the lengthy prison term.
The judge ultimately sentenced Mauldin to six fewer years than prosecutors had requested. Mauldin's attorney had argued for a probationary sentence, and during testimony, Mauldin expressed remorse, describing herself as being in a "dark place" at the time of the abuse.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the investigation into Mauldin began after another former teacher, Bonnie Elizabeth Brown, 26, was arrested on allegations she also had sexual contact with the same student. Brown has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial next month.
The scandal involving both educators led to the permanent closure of Nathanael Greene Academy, which had operated since 1959. The school's closure came amid fallout from the investigation, and the teenage victim had previously accused school officials of failing to protect him.
The victim described how the teachers took advantage of their positions of authority, saying, "These women took advantage of their positions as my teachers. My school did not protect me as a child."
